'ONE NATION, ONE ELECTION PLAN HAS ROOTS IN PAST

The first few general elections post-independence were held simultaneously, with the state legislative assembly elections. While the practice continued till 1967, due to the premature dissolution of some state assemblies.

India, the world's largest democracy, is almost always in election mode. With 28 states, eight union territories and nearly a billion eligible voters, polls are a constant feature of the nation's political landscape.

For years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has championed the idea of "One Nation, One Election" - a proposal to hold state and federal elections simultaneously every five years.

On Tuesday, the Indian law minister introduced a bill to implement this system in the parliament, sparking a debate over power dynamics. Supporters argue this approach would slash campaign costs, ease the strain on administrative resources and streamline governance.

Former President Ram Nath Kovind, who led a nine-member committee that recommended holding elections at the same time last year, called it a "game changer", citing economists who say it could boost India's GDP by up to 1.5%.

Critics, however, warn it could erode India's federal structure, concentrating power in the center and weakening states' autonomy.

India's democracy operates on multiple levels, each with its own election cycle. There are general elections to choose parliament members, state elections to pick legislators, while rural and urban councils hold separate votes for local governance. By-elections fill vacancies caused by resignation, death or disqualification of representatives. These elections happen every five years, but at different times. The government now wants to sync them.

In March, a panel led by Kovind proposed holding state and general elections together in its extensive 18,626-page report. It also recommended local body elections within 100 days.

The committee suggested that if a government loses an election, fresh polls would be held, but its tenure would last only until the next synchronized election.